EC315 Quantitative Research Methods

for F1T 2010

Mission Statement: The mission of Park University, an entrepreneurial institution of learning, is to provide access to academic excellence, which will prepare learners to think critically, communicate effectively and engage in lifelong learning while serving a global community.

Vision Statement: Park University will be a renowned international leader in providing innovative educational opportunities for learners within the global society.

Course

EC 315 Quantitative Research Methods

Semester

F1T 2010 DL

Faculty

Hiestand, Thomas W.

Title

Senior Professor of Economics

Degrees/Certificates

B.A. Math and Economics, Luther CollegePh.D. Econmics, Kansas State University

Scientific Calculator [This calculator must have the ability to raise a number to a power other than two. Such calculators usually have an XY or an YX key.] Cost about $15.PC with modem (28.8 or faster)

Internet Browser (Microsoft or Netscape).

E-mail account

Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel software.

Access to a Fax machine (or Scanner) may be necessary for handwritten graphs and calculations

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Course Description:EC315 Quantitative Research Methods: This intermediate level statistics course covers the fundamentals of conducting quantitative research for the social and administrative sciences. The course is organized around a research project on quantitative analysis of data. Prerequisite: MA120 and CS140. 3:0:3

Educational Philosophy:

My educational philosophy is one of interactiveness based on lectures, readings, quizzes, dialogues, examinations, internet, videos, web sites and writings. I will try to engage each learner in what is referred to as disputatious learning to encourage the lively exploration of ideas, issues and contradictions.

Learning Outcomes:Core Learning Outcomes

Derive an original regression model and run it using Microsoft Excel. Write a paper explaining this model and its outcome.

Given an Excel regression output, correctly interpret the model statistics including the statistical significance of the independent variables and the R-square statistic of the model.

Find the predicted value of the dependent variable given a regression output with independent variable coefficients plus values for the independent variables.

Conduct hypothesis tests and confidence intervals on the mean and the difference between two means using the "t" statistic.

Conduct hypothesis tests and confidence intervals on the binomial statistic and on the difference between two binomial statistics using the "t" statistic.

Core Assessment:

All Park University courses must include a core assessment that measures the course Learning Outcomes. The purpose of this assessment is to determine if expectations have been met concerning mastery of learning outcomes across all instructional modalities. For this course, the core assessment is a final exam to be administered in all sections of EC 315. This exam is worth 30 percent of the student’s final grade and will test students’ mastery of core learning outcomes through short answer questions on specific knowledge, Regression analysis procedure, and hypothesis testing.

Homework
* 20 points per chapter,
some weeks will have more
than 1 chapter

1- 7

20

200

Quizzes
*10 questions per chapter,
some weeks will have 20
questions and some weeks
will have only 10

1- 7

10*

100

Course Participation

all

10

80

Midterm Examination

4

200

200

Term Project Proposal

5

50

50

Term Project Report

8

70

70

Proctored Final Exam

8

300

300

Total

1,000

Grading:

Assessment

Week

Points

Total
Points

Homework
* 20 points per chapter,
some weeks will have more
than 1 chapter

1- 7

20

200

Quizzes
*10 questions per chapter,
some weeks will have 20
questions and some weeks
will have only 10

1- 7

10*

100

Course Participation

all

10

80

Midterm Examination

4

200

200

Term Project Proposal

5

50

50

Term Project Report

8

70

70

Proctored Final Exam

8

300

300

Total

1,000

Points

Grade

900 - 1000

A

800 - 899

B

700 - 799

C

600 - 699

D

<599

F

Final examination - The student's grade will directly reflect their overall course average. The Core Assessment is the final comprehensive exam, which accounts for 30& of the student's grade. The final proctored examination will be taken in a proctored testing environment during the 8th week at one of the Park University Campus Centers. This test will be closed book and closed notes.

The course grade for students will be based on the overall average of homework and tests taken during the course in accordance with the weighting of the various requirements as stated in the syllabus.

All final exams in all School of Business and Management courses will be comprehensive and will be closed book and closed notes. They will constitute 30% of the total course grade and will not be a take-home exam. They will be completed during the test week in the period designated by the registrar or by the Proctor in the case online courses. If calculators are allowed, they will not be multifunctional electronic devices that include features such as: phones, cameras, instant messaging, pagers, and so forth. Electronic Computers will not be allowed on final exams unless an exception is made by the Dean of the School of Business and Management.

Grading:

Grading:

Assessment

Week

Points

Total
Points

Homework
* 20 points per chapter,
some weeks will have more
than 1 chapter

1- 7

20

200

Quizzes
*10 questions per chapter,
some weeks will have 20
questions and some weeks
will have only 10

1- 7

10*

100

Course Participation

all

10

80

Midterm Examination

4

200

200

Term Project Proposal

5

50

50

Term Project Report

8

70

70

Proctored Final Exam

8

300

300

Total

1,000

Points

Grade

900 - 1000

A

800 - 899

B

700 - 799

C

600 - 699

D

<599

F

Final examination - The student's grade will directly reflect their overall course average. The Core Assessment is the final comprehensive exam, which accounts for 30& of the student's grade. The final proctored examination will be taken in a proctored testing environment during the 8th week at one of the Park University Campus Centers. This test will be closed book and closed notes.

The course grade for students will be based on the overall average of homework and tests taken during the course in accordance with the weighting of the various requirements as stated in the syllabus.

All final exams in all School of Business and Management courses will be comprehensive and will be closed book and closed notes. They will constitute 30% of the total course grade and will not be a take-home exam. They will be completed during the test week in the period designated by the registrar or by the Proctor in the case online courses. If calculators are allowed, they will not be multifunctional electronic devices that include features such as: phones, cameras, instant messaging, pagers, and so forth. Electronic Computers will not be allowed on final exams unless an exception is made by the Dean of the School of Business and Management.

The course grade for students will be based on the overall average of homework and tests taken during the course in accordance with the weighting of the various requirements as stated in the syllabus.

All final exams in all School of Business and Management courses will be comprehensive and will be closed book and closed notes. They will constitute 30% of the total course grade and will not be a take-home exam. They will be completed during the test week in the period designated by the registrar or by the Proctor in the case online courses. If calculators are allowed, they will not be multifunctional electronic devices that include features such as: phones, cameras, instant messaging, pagers, and so forth. Electronic Computers will not be allowed on final exams unless an exception is made by the Dean of the School of Business and Management.

The course grade for students will be based on the overall average of homework and tests taken during the course in accordance with the weighting of the various requirements as stated in the syllabus.

All final exams in all School of Business courses will be comprehensive and will be closed book and closed notes. They will constitute 30% of the total course grade and will not be a take-home exam. They will be completed during the test week in the period designated by the registrar or by the Proctor in the case online courses. If calculators are allowed, they will not be multifunctional electronic devices that include features such as: phones, cameras, instant messaging, pagers, and so forth. Electronic Computers will not be allowed on final exams unless an exception is made by the Dean of the School of Business.

Late Submission of Course Materials: Late Work: Each week's work must be completed by the end of that week. Comprehensive solutions will be distributed after the deadline. After a solution is distributed to any student in the class, the maximum grade will be 50% for that assignment. However, late or not, it is important that you complete all assignments because they will be a major help in preparing you for the test. There is a huge difference in what you will learn by working the assignments and what you will learn by reading the solution to them.

Classroom Rules of Conduct:

Classroom Rules of Conduct:

Policy #1: If you experience computer difficulties (need help downloading a browser or plug-in, you need help logging into the course, or if you experience any errors or problems while in your online course, please contact the helpdesk via phone (toll free) at 1-866-301-park or by email at helpdesk@parkonline.org.

Policy #2: Please check weekly discussion area in the current week under course home before you ask general course questions. This is the only discussion thread that I monitor regularly. When you have a question on an assignment or other class matter, put your question in the weekly discussion thread for that week. This consolidates questions on similar topics and reduces the area that students have to search for answers to their questions. When you have a course question, look for a similar question in that week's discussion thread. If you do not see your question there, then post your question. Posting them in the threaded discussion area will allow your fellow students to benefit from your questions. There are no stupid/silly questions.

Policy #3: Communicate: If you are experiencing any confusion over course material, technical difficulties that are not being resolved and are preventing you from completing your assignments, or general questions about the course, I prefer you put your question in the weekly discussion thread but if this is not helpful e-mail me directly. I will respond to course-related questions within 48 hours.

Policy #4: Back up every piece of work, you complete. Always have two copies for yourself and one for me. Your copies should be on different media. Keep one copy on the hard drive and one on a floppy or CD-ROM for example. This will ensure that a computer goof or a glitch in cyberspace will not wipe out all traces of your hard work. Be sure to keep a copy of everything you send to me until after your course grade is finalized.

Policy #5 Late Work: Each week's work must be completed by the end of that week. Comprehensive solutions will be distributed after the deadline. After a solution is distributed to any student in the class, the maximum grade will be 50% for that assignment. However, late or not, it is important that you complete all assignments because they will be a major help in preparing you for the test. There is a huge difference in what you will learn by working the assignments and what you will learn by reading the solution to them.

Policy #6 Online Etiquette: All online communications need to be composed with fairness, honesty and tact. If I deem an online communication to be inappropriate or offensive, I will forward it to the appropriate ParkUniversity official and appropriate action will be taken.

Policy #7 Numerical calculations will be carried out to four decimal places in all stages of calculations including the final answer. In some cases, you will be directed to not round off at all in the intermediate stages of a problem. It is not necessary to add zeros to integers. For example the number "4" is written as "4" not "4.0000." However, 1/3 will be .3333 and 2/3 will be .6667. Note that if there are five or more decimal places the fourth digit is unchanged when the fifth digit is 4 or less, but it is rounded up when the fifth digit is 5 or higher. Thus .33333 is rounded to .3333 and .66666 is rounded to .6667.

Course Topic/Dates/Assignments:

Course Topic/Dates/Assignments:

Evaluation Item Points

Assessment

Week

Points

Total
Points

Homework
* 20 points per chapter,
some weeks will have more
than 1 chapter

1- 7

20

200

Quizzes
*10 questions per chapter,
some weeks will have 20
questions and some weeks
will have only 10

1- 7

10*

100

Course Participation

all

10

80

Midterm Examination

4

200

200

Term Project Proposal

5

50

50

Term Project Report

8

70

70

Proctored Final Exam

8

300

300

Total

1,000

Weekly Quiz Schedule

Chapter

Week

# Quiz
Questions

Length
of Quiz

3

1

10

30 min

6, 7

2

20

1 hour

8, 9

3

20

1 hour

10

4

10

30 min

13

5

10

30 min

12, 14

6

20

1 hour

11

7

10

30 min

You will have graded weekly homework assigned in the weekly threads and weekly quizzes. Your term project is broken down into two parts: the term project proposal (week 5); and your term paper report (week 8). You will have a mid-term exam (week 4), a proctored final exam (week 8) and participation.

Academic Honesty:Academic integrity is the foundation of the academic community. Because each student has the primary responsibility for being academically honest, students are advised to read and understand all sections of this policy relating to standards of conduct and academic life. Park University students and faculty members are encouraged to take advantage of the University resources available for learning about academic honesty (www.park.edu/current or http://www.park.edu/faculty/).from Park University 2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog Page 92

Plagiarism:Plagiarism involves the use of quotations without quotation marks, the use of quotations without indication of the source, the use of another's idea without acknowledging the source, the submission of a paper, laboratory report, project, or class assignment (any portion of such) prepared by another person, or incorrect paraphrasing. from Park University 2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog Page 92-93

The instructor may excuse absences for valid reasons, but missed work must be made up within the semester/term of enrollment.

Work missed through unexcused absences must also be made up within the semester/term of enrollment, but unexcused absences may carry further penalties.

In the event of two consecutive weeks of unexcused absences in a semester/term of enrollment, the student will be administratively withdrawn, resulting in a grade of "F".

A "Contract for Incomplete" will not be issued to a student who has unexcused or excessive absences recorded for a course.

Students receiving Military Tuition Assistance or Veterans Administration educational benefits must not exceed three unexcused absences in the semester/term of enrollment. Excessive absences will be reported to the appropriate agency and may result in a monetary penalty to the student.

Report of a "F" grade (attendance or academic) resulting from excessive absence for those students who are receiving financial assistance from agencies not mentioned in item 5 above will be reported to the appropriate agency.

ONLINE NOTE: An attendance report of "P" (present) will be recorded for students who have logged in to the Online classroom at least once during each week of the term. Recording of attendance is not equivalent to participation. Participation grades will be assigned by each instructor according to the criteria in the Grading Policy section of the syllabus.

Disability Guidelines:Park University is committed to meeting the needs of all students that meet the criteria for special assistance. These guidelines are designed to supply directions to students concerning the information necessary to accomplish this goal. It is Park University's policy to comply fully with federal and state law, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, regarding students with disabilities. In the case of any inconsistency between these guidelines and federal and/or state law, the provisions of the law will apply. Additional information concerning Park University's policies and procedures related to disability can be found on the Park University web page: http://www.park.edu/disability .